AgronomyDiseasesPotato pest worries farmers in Australia

Potato pest worries farmers in Australia

-

Potato producers in southwest Western Australia say the detection of the tomato potato psyllid is a “serious blow” to their industry.

The psyllid is known to attack a range of plants in the Solanaceae family, including potato and also sweet potato.

It is the first time the pest has been detected in Australia. It has so far been detected in tomatoes and eggplants in Perth, in tomatoes at two properties in Mount Hawthorn, in chilies at a property in Palmyra and in a capsicum crop on a commercial property north of Perth.

While the psyllid does not pose risk to human health, it feeds on plants, causing yellowing of the leaves and misshapen fruit, and in severe cases it can kill the plant entirely.

However, there is not only concern for the psyllid. More of a worry to southwest Western Australian producers is the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, which causes the zebra chip disease in potatoes, rendering them completely unmarketable.

The Liberibacter has not yet been discovered with the psyllid in Australia, but scientists are concerned because its pathway is unknown.

Due to its size, it is believed the psyllid can easily spread throughout a region on people, plants or wind currents — a prospect of serious concern to the Western Australian potato industry.

There are concerns the psyllid could impact international export markets.

Source: abc.net.au

Trending This Week

Spud Smart’s Most Innovative Products for 2025

What innovative products are leading the Canadian potato industry into the future? As the Canadian potato industry grapples with unpredictable weather patterns, economic strains, and...

Unlocking the Potato’s Hidden Defense: New Discovery Could Revolutionize Pest Control

0
A discovery from Japan’s Kobe University sheds light on a secret chemical dialogue between potato roots, soil microbes, and harmful parasites — opening new...

Potatoes in the Ground, Markets in Motion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSEQ0T5cEQc Potatoes are in the ground and processing contracts are negotiated. United Potato Growers of Canada General Manager Victoria Stamper breaks down what’s happening across the...

Advancing High-Quality Seed Potato Multiplication for Family Farms in Uruguay

0
The potato holds a central role in Uruguay’s agricultural landscape, contributing significantly to the country’s food security and economy — but access to high...

Should French Fries say “Bye Bye Burbank”, and “Hello Yellow!”?

0
Last month, I talked about how it’s time to say, “Bye Bye Burbank”. The Russet Burbank has been a cornerstone of the potato industry...